Post structure



June 10, 1930. JOHNSTON 1,763,156

POST STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fir. l9 1 W I "1 J WITNESSES: INVENTOR /hwamLJofi/v zon ORNEY' June 10, 1930. H. JOHNSTON POST STRUCTURE- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1925 INVENTOR B foam/0'1, bk/157m L0 WITNESSES:

TORNEY 7 Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOWARD L. JOHNSTON, OF FOREST HILLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IA POST STRUCTURE Application filed January 16, 1925. Serial No. 2,965.

My invention relates to metallic structures and specifically to a sectional or split base for posts.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a sectional base structure for posts having provision therein for fastening together the elements of a casing for electrical control devices.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved means for rigidly and securely fastening a sectional base structure to a central supporting post.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a sectional base that is comparative- 1y cheap to manufacture and has means embodied therein for ease of access to the housing in the bottom portion thereof.

Heretofore, posts have been provided with sheathed structures both with and without means for housing electrical or other apparatus therein. Such structures were onepart or two-part structures and they were expensive to manufacture as they were large and diflicult to cast. They were also difficult to disassemble for the purpose of inspecting and replacing the electrical devices in the bases, for the reason that they were split from top to bottom and for such purposes it was necessary to remove the entire half-section. Such structures were attached to the post from the outside by means of large screws or pins. The screws were required to be of such size and strength that moisture readily collected between the screws and casing and caused corrosion, which made it difficult and sometimes impossible to remove the casing without breakage. Another objection to the structure was that the whole half-section had to be detached and drawn away from the post in order to open the comparatively small casing in the base.

Such operation often required special apparatus to replace heavy'base members especially where there was lack of space or where the post was located on sloping ground.

LIy invention provides a structure that is securely and rigidly fastened to the supporting post and comprises a number of mem- 60 bers of simple form that are comparatively cheap to manufacture. The parts of device are so shaped that inspection of apparatus assembled in the base is easily and quickly made, as the enclosure in the base is made accessible by the removal of a comparatively small portion of the structure.

In the drawings, constituting a part hereof and in which like numerals designate like parts,

Figure 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the base structure; I

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1 but taken at right angles thereto;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the structure;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the base, taken along the lines IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in crodss section along the lines VV of Fig. 2, an

Fig. 6 is a View in perspective of the housing with one of the covers removed.

The structure is provided with a cylindrical inner post 1 that is arranged for mounting ornamental sheathing members (not shown) on the upper portion thereof, which members are adapted to be attached to, and supported by, the main post. The base sheathing member is a bi-partite casing or structure comprising substantially semicylindrical members 2 and 3. The upper portions of sheathing members 2 and 3 are provided with an overlapping joint along the line 4, which is in a plane passing through the axis of the cylinder. The semicylindrical members 2 and 3 are enlarged about midway between the top and base at a pointnear where the line of separation 4 is terminated. The members 2 and 3 are then parted along irregular lines 5 which lie in planes practically parallel to the axis of the cylinder and intersect the first-named plane on either side of the axis.

A pair of fingers 6, which are inside of the cylindrical members 2 and 3, are cast integral therewith and project downwardly into the opening 7 formed when members 2 and 3 areplaced together. Bolts 7 which are inserted through openings in fingers 6, are operated through the opening 7 in the casing and hold the parts 2 and 3 together. The fingers 6 are also provided on their contacting sur'r'aces with projections 8 and 9, (see Fig. which serve as guides when the members 2 and 3 are bolted together. The cylindrical members 2 and 3 are gradually enlarged from the point where fingers 6 are attached to the bottom of the members. A spider formed by lugs 10 at the extreme bottom of members 2 and 3 extends inwardly, so that when the bolts 7 are tightened, the spider bears directly against the post 1. At the top, the casing members 2 and 3 are provided with inwardly extending flanges 11, which also bear against the post 1 when the members 2 and 3 are bolted together.

The electrical control devices 13 are attached to the post 1 by means of a clamp 14 and are assembled in the annular space 16 at the base of the post through the irregular arch-like opening 7 formed between members 2 and 3.

The base is closed by dished or lobate members 17, the members 2 and 3 being provided with lapping flanges 18 to which the members 17 are attached by means of screws 19.

lVhen it is desired to inspect or make renewals in the electrical parts that are assembled in the base of the post, it is necessary to remove only the small screws 19 and the small portion 17 of the assembled sheath.

My invention thus comprises a post-sheathing structure so constituted that it is at tached to an inner post by means of a single pair of concealed bolts. The sheathing provides a housing in the base portion so that all operations in assembling the parts are performed in the housing. The main parts of the housing are attached to the post at the top and bottom by means of a clamping device that is located substantiallv midway between the points of support.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto, as modifications in the specific form of my device will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is defined in the annexed claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sheath for posts comprising two sheathing members and two cover members, the upper portion of said sheathing members being shaped to conform to a cylinder for encircling a post, the lower ends of the sheathing members being spaced apart and the two cover members being disposed therebetween to form a distorted cylinder for encircling the post.

2. A segmental sheath for a post comprising two symmetrical housing members, substantially semi-cylindrical at the upper portions and spaced apartat the lower portions to provide openings between the members, covers for said openings adapted to be detachably fastened to said housing, and members and fingers provided on the inside of said housings adjacent said openings for detachably fastening said housing members to said post.

3. A segmental housing for a post comprising two shell members adapted to partly surround the post, the edges of the two shell members adjoining each other at the upper portions thereof and being spaced apart at the lower portions thereof whereby a housing is formed with a closed upper portion and an open lower portion, and a cover for the opening so formed.

at. A segmental housing for a post comprising two substantially identical shell members adapted to partly surround the post, the edges of the two shell members adjoining each other at the upper portions thereof and being spaced apart at the lower portions thereof whereby a housing is formed with a closed upper port-ion and an open lower portion, and a cover for the opening so formed.

5. A segmental housing for a post comprising two substantially identical shell members adapted to engage the post at their upper portions and being further provided with means for engaging the post at the lower portion of the shell members and means including internal lugs on each shell member intermediate the ends and a bolt extending through said lugs for clamping the two shell members together, the edges of the two shell members adjoining each other at the upper portions thereof? and being spaced apart at the lower portions thereof whereby a housing is formed with a closed upper portion and an open lower portion, and a cover for the opening so formed.

6. A segmental housing fora post comprising two shell members, the edges of the two shell members adjoining each other at the upper portions thereof and being spaced apart at the lower portions thereof whereby a housing is formed for a closed upper por tion and having two oppositely disposed openings at the lower portion, and covers for the openings so formed.

7. A tubular segmental housing for a post comprising two substantially identical shell members, each having an upper portion sub stantially cylindrical in cross-section and a lower portion substantially oblong in cross section, each lower portion being provided along each of its edges with a cut out section, whereby, when the shell members are placed with analogous edges in contact, a housing is formed having a cylindrical upper portion and having openings in the lower por tion formed by the said cut-out sections, analogously positioned lugs on each shell member positioned to be accessible through the said ofiienings, bolts through the lugs to clamp the s ell members together and covers for the openings.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of December,

HOWARD L. JOHNSTON. 

